( Did Leslie Frank's application get hurt or helped by her husband's political involvement?)
I was going to let this go away but Leslie Frank wrote a a letter to The Star about ML Peterson and the appointment process.
Click on continue reading to see the letter.
After you get chance to say what you think I will tell you what I think about it.
What really matters in V.C. schools?
By Leslie Frank
Friday, August 22, 2008
Last week, I had the privilege of being one of eight candidates to interview with the Ventura County Office of Education school board for consideration as the next county superintendent of schools. Some of you will read these words as sour grapes that I was not selected. However, no sour grapes are intended.
Rather, these words are written to express disappointment that, so often, we, as a community, are distracted from what really matters and makes a difference for our students in Ventura County. That is what happened in my experience with the selection process.
Before the interviews began on Friday, The Star published an article about the eight candidates -- very limited information, mainly just stating each of our current positions. However, I was the only candidate whose spouse was mentioned. My husband's work as a former officer of a state political party was included in that article. Interesting.
The interviews began with an opportunity for public comments first thing that morning. I was not present for the public comments, but I understand two members of the community took this opportunity to question my ability to lead the county office due to my husband's beliefs and political affiliations. People who were there used the word "nasty" to describe the comments.
That afternoon, I interviewed with the county Board of Education. During my interview, several board members were kind enough to apologize for the poor discretion exhibited at the public hearing. However, in the course of the interview, one board member, Mary Louise Peterson, raised the issue again and asked me if my husband's beliefs affected my performance as an educator.
What I wish I had said
I stumbled around as I answered, "No." Here is the answer I wish I had shared with Mrs. Peterson and the county Board of Education at that time:
Mrs. Peterson, I am disappointed that you believe it is necessary to ask that question.
First of all, I have to wonder if you believe that, as a woman and educational leader with 35 years of experience, I am not strong enough ever to have a different set of beliefs or an idea that differs from my husband. That in itself is very troubling. But more importantly, your question would indicate that perhaps you and the others who raised the issue this morning don't really know what matters on our school campuses every day.
The fact is my husband and I seldom discuss his political perspectives at all and never try to relate them to what is happening at the school I am privileged to lead. His perspectives do not have the benefit of the day-to-day classroom experience that is such a part of my professional day. His political comments simply do not have relevance to my day-to-day work as an educational leader. In much the same way, we don't discuss his political activities to any extent. I simply don't share his passion in the political arena.
What teachers, principals and involved parents across this county are doing every day in our classrooms from Ojai to Rio to Oxnard to Conejo to Oak Park so far transcends the political beliefs my husband has that there is truly no easy way to relate the two. Do you want to know what influences me? Let's ask the teachers, parents and students with whom I work. In fact, let's get the principals, involved parents, teachers and students from every high-performing school in this county and every school showing improvement in student achievement in this county and let them tell us what has influenced their success. I can guarantee there would not be a teacher who would say, "I read Mr. Frank's article on the state budget and was so inspired it changed the parameters of student learning in my classroom."
Similarly, not one of them would say, "You know, I reviewed the minutes of a county board meeting and was so inspired by Mrs. Peterson's political views that, as a parent, I increased my level of commitment to the school."
The truth is, all of us who are truly committed to student learning across this county know that what ultimately matters is what happens in each classroom. And we are involved because that is where our heart and soul are not because of any political affiliation or political view. There are many board members and community leaders across the county who understand that. I only wish more of them did.
No, I was not selected as the county superintendent. But I will enthusiastically continue my work with the committed teachers, support staff, parents and students I have the privilege of serving every day in the classrooms at my assigned school. In that arena, in every school in this county, we truly are making a difference for students.
-- Leslie Frank of Simi Valley is principal of Sinaloa Middle School in the Simi Valley Unified School District.
As I said in the comments, this is very unprofessional and just reinforces that the right decision was made.
I applaud Ms Frank's letter. To have it suggested, after building a successful career as a devoted educator and a strong administrator, that she is somehow automatically disqualified by her husband's politics is an embarrassment.
"Watch that we don't become what we struggle against."
GS, it is my understanding that the question wasn't even asked - which I found out after I wrote my comments on the article.
I have no idea if she was qualified but I don't like the fact that $25K and 4 months later was unnecessarily spent by the VCBOE. And I find it very coincidental that she is the only candidate writing an open letter of complaint.
Ask the various board members what they think of the letter and report back. I'd be curious.
Ask Kunicki why Leslie suddenly decided to run. He's the one who recruited her.
It's hard to deny that the suggestion wasn't a part of the members' concerns, if not openly asked about, but it appears from Ms Frank's letter that it was asked directly. Unless a candidate had shown a tendency of mixing his/her extreme politics with his/her performance on the job the question should be out of bounds.
I agree that the $$ and time wasted on this inane search is deplorable and should be made an issue when the members are up for reelection...along with all the other $$ thrown down the rabbit hole.
When you are married to someone who goes out of the way in his/her political activities, it is a legitimate concern. I don't think the question should be out of bounds but the answer should be respected. It sounds like Mrs. Frank was very sincere in her response that her husband's very visible political activist life would have no bearing on her job performance.
This open letter is a political stunt. It is one thing to copy all members of the board, it is another thing to submit it to the paper. I think Mrs. Frank got some very bad advice.
There are a lot of students and teachers at Sinaloa M.S. disappointed that Leslie Franks did not get the new job.
Click "Bart Simpson" for a clue as to why.
Where does it stop? Does "Is your spouse now or ever been an opinionated member of another party?"?
Do we start qualifying candidates for local school board based on their husbands' politics? Should we allow school boards to ask the same question of teacher applicants?
I understand what you're saying Katie, about political agendas being a valid concern but the only suspicion here was that many of us don't like her husband's opinions.
Would we take exception to this public letter if the author were the wife of a liberal firebrand asked the same question by Kunicki?
My response would be the same. Ask what one wants but respect the response.
Great article in today's Star by Leslie Frank on the politicization of the County Schools Superintendent selection process. I guess M.L. Peterson feels a woman can't think for herself or form opinions and judgments independent of those of her husband.
I've known Leslie for over 20 years and I think she would have made a great Superintendent. She clearly places the education of our kids and improving the quality of the services provided by County schools as her top priorities and passions. It's unfortunate that politics had to get in the way of the best person being selected for the job.
If she can form her own opinion why did she have to run home and have her husband write this letter?
How did you reach that conclusion, stephanopolous? Oh, I know, you made it up.
Inductive reasoning. She didn't answer the question when it was asked and one can easily come to the conclusion she discussed it with her husband.
If my wife distanced herself from me with a public statement like that, there would be some serious discussion after dinner.
If my wife distanced herself from me with a public statement like that, there would be some serious discussion after dinner.
If my wife distanced herself from me with a public statement like that, there would be some serious discussion after dinner.
Katie,
Do you now or have you ever met Mrs. Frank?
I've had first hand experience with her Barbra, and I found her to be as mean spirited as her demented husband. She may be a joy to work with at the Junior High as GS has stated, but she is a classless hate monger in the political arena. The woman is no better than her husband and should have never been considered for the job at the County.
The mere fact that she didn't have the courage to answer the "troubling" question honestly at the interview is further proof that she lacks the integrity to hold the job. Instead of being open and honest, she went home and drafted the self serving letter that was most likely written by her husband or one of Phony Tony's handlers.
This round Barbra, I hope you don't go out on a limb and support this wack job. Usually you are right on target.
Barbra, as I stated in one of my first posts, I have not met her.
Being the wife Of Steve Frank is why Kunicki asked her to put her name in, the $25,000 search firm did not ask her to run because she did not meet the minimum qualifications. She did not get the job because she was not qualified, she has never been higher than a Middle School Principal. To be County Sup you need District level experience. Kunicki and Valenzano were hoping they could get this through, just like when Audra Strickland was appointed, even though she was the least qualified and had missed the deadline they gave it to her as a political gift to Tony who had given campaign money to many of them. Leslie Frank is taking her anger out on Peterson because she is a democrat, but Elder and Bates did not want her either, they are conservatives but they are not crazy like Kunicki and Valenzano and they knew she was totally unqualified for the job and would have the respect of no one. She may be an average Principal doing an adequate job, but she lacks the skills to be County Sup, plain and simple.
Excellent points above.
The tax-payers aren't looking for another Kunicki or Valenzano. Kunicki and Valenzano are looking for another Kunicki and Valenzano.
We need a out-sourcing company to find different jobs for these people.
The woman is either a bald faced liar or has one of the worst marriages in VC.
She states "we don't discuss his political activities to any extent."
My ass.
Let's see, your husband is a hard core winger and longtime extremist Republican operative, pretty much making his living as a hired gun hatemmonger, and you claim you don't discuss his political activities or take any interest in what he does all day and night?
It would be like Hillary Clinton saying she had no idea that her hubby had a zipper problem for the past 30 years. It doesn't even pass the laugh test.
Ms. Frank is as big a right wing hate monger as her sick husband. The only difference is that she is polished and he is covered in slime. Her letter is a bunch of bull. They thought they had the votes and two Boardmembers got scared; it's as simple as that. A Junior High School is the end of the line for Ms. Frank.
Brian,
Check out the comment by "We're Not Stupid" above. The poster calls Leslie Frank a "bald-face liar." Is this less offensive than calling someone a "nut job?" I guess I'm having a difficult time seeing the difference.
My policy has always remained the same. If you see something over the top email me so I can delete it. I rely upon readers to help me keep my blog more respectable than most.
I delete comments quite often. I have told almost every major campaign over the last few years this same policy both to staff and to their candidates. I talked to Peter Foy and Tony Strickland in person about this policy to give you an example.
As you are well aware as a long time reader some days I get many, many comments.
Emailing me doesn't give away your identity. I have your IP address when you post anyways.
But what it does do is make it easy to erase trash comments. If I erase the comment you pointed out then your comment doesn't make sense. Then I need to erase your comment or it might look like you are talking about something much more mild. Then I have to erase this comment explaining the policy again.
I tried earlier on another entry to stop a conversation about Leslie Frank's application because I could tell it was going to continue to be nasty. Then she wrote an open letter to The Star and it all got rolling again.
But if all of that doesn't clear it up for you maybe this will. You were posting about a long time spat you have had with Katie Teague on a school board entry for a city neither of you live in.
There are plenty of places to continue that dispute. She didn't post a thing on that entry.
Please try to keep entries on topic.
Brian,
Check CAP 653's comment right before my previous one about Steve & Leslie Frank. This needs to be deleted too, per your policy as well as the one I mentioned in my previous post. I think you need to be consistent in how your policy is applied.
What about Brian Dennert's freedom of speech? It's his blog. Brian's blog comes up at the top or near the top of Google searches on every local political candidate and every challenge facing this county and beyond. When someone Googles a topic it needs to be about that topic. It's not too much to ask.
I said:
"My policy has always remained the same. If you see something over the top email me so I can delete it. I rely upon readers to help me keep my blog more respectable than most."
I hold to this policy for many reasons.
1. It makes it easier to delete posts while not having to delete posts that refer to the deleted post.
2. We don't have to debate what should be deleted. I delete almost everything that is emailed to me. In fact, I don't remember a single time someone followed the basic policy and requested something gets deleted that I did not delete it. I have deleted things upon request for years.
If you are offended at something and don't want me to know who you are make a free hotmail or yahoo account.
EMAIL ME. I take your refusal to follow this policy as admitting you'd rather debate it then have it removed.
Why would someone demand something be deleted that tells the truth or states a position when it is honest and on target to the subject of the blog? Steve Frank alone was the sole reason for Kunicki pushing Leslie Frank up for the position, and it was the reason for two of Stricklands gumbas to back down and send her packing. Her husband alone was responsible for this. She never had the credentials for the position, and her husband is a hate monger. The only disputed issue is whether or not she is a hate monger as well. My first hand experience is that she is. She puts up a good front at the Junior High, but she is a whack job just like her husband.
What proof besides hearsay do you have that he is a hatemonger? That sounds like a very unfair attack unless you back it up.
You need proof that he is a hatemonger? No one runs unfair attacks more frequently than Steve Frank. No one attacks people with lies more frequently than Frank. No one has a twenty plus year history of character assassinations than Frank. You want proof? This isn't hearsay "!", this is just history. He is a hatemonger and a very evil one at that.
Guess that's the long way of saying you don't have any.
Steve Frank says anti-Dem things nearly every day. All but the last quote occurred in the last two months.
Is it possible to embarrass a Democrat? Obviously not.
He is bigoted, demeaning and crazy.
Why does Jerry Brown hate Californians so much? Maybe he needs therapy?
Democrats Laura Richardson is a crook.
From the ethically challenged Don Perata, to Mayor Ron Dellums, Oakland is filled with openly sleazy elected and appointed officials.
For years the Left has hated israel and Jews
He might believe in conspiracy theories but I don't see him attacking people for defending Israel. Recently on his blog somebody wrote this
Which party had a President with a Body Count List (61)? Including 12 Body Guards?" and "Which party does about 87% of American Jews support? Which party sends $3 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR to Israel?" The next comment was from Frank and he wrote " Thanks for noting a partial list of Liberal and Luddite caused problems." Funny enough the person before him also wrote "Which party had a President who hated the Jews? Was it, Give me Jimmy?"
I guess we don't really know what he thinks. Someone wrote that Democrats are controlled by Jews and that Democrats hate Jews. Crazy talk with a theory that Bill Clinton was having people killed off too.
I wouldn't take anything he says seriously. I doubt he does!
Steve Frank's only power comes from people believing that his rolodex will get candidates elected.
Well let's see who he helped - hmmmm, Bill Simon, Bill Jones, Rudy Giuliani. Kiss of death, it seems to me.